Sunflower Guide

Sunflower festivals are celebrated during the summer months when all plants, sunflowers and gardens alike, are in full bloom. Can you think of a more cheery theme for a summer festival as the sunflower? The sunflower is a great symbol for unity and peace, love and happiness. Sunflower festivals are generally about being laid back and enjoying life, just as the sunflower is quite laid back as it enjoys the sun while it is crossing the sky. There are many festivals around the world named after the sunflower, and we are listing the current gatherings here on this page for your convenience and enjoyment! If you know of any additional sunflower festivals we have missed, please use our contact form to send info along and we'll get it on this page as fast as we can!

Sunflower Festivals – Where & When

The Fifteenth Annual Sunflower Festival is to be held this year on June 1st, 2013 in Gilliam, Louisiana. The Festival includes arts and crafts and food vendors as well as entertainment. The "Sunflower Trail" features sunflowers planted along the Dixie-Shreveport Road to be enjoyed by visitors driving to the Festival. A photography contest is open during the month of June for interested photographers.

Sunflower Music Festival, Topeka, Kansas, USA
An annual series of orchestra concerts, chamber music evenings, educational projects and other artistic events of the highest level. These events occur throughout a two week period each June in White Concert Hall on the Washburn University campus. This year's dates are June 7th to 15th, 2013.

The Sunflower Farm Festival
The 12th annual Sunflower Festival will be held July 6th and 7th, 2013 at 1380 Durden Rd. Rutledge, GA USA

• Beautiful 15 acre Sunflower Field
• Huge Shade covered Artist Market
• Live Traditional Music
• Antique Tractor Parade on Saturday
• Kids Area
• Delicious Local BBQ and lots of other Summertime Treats

Sunflower Farm reopens for the 2013 Sunflower Season June 15th - July 15th, daily from 8am-8pm.

The Altona Sunflower Festival
July 26th, 27th & 28th, 2013 in Altona, Monitoba, Canada
You are heartily invited to attend one of the most famous and exciting events in southern Manitoba! Altona's own Sunflower Festival has been entertaining residents and visitors alike since 1964. Traditionally held during the last weekend in July, the Festival is as vibrant and colourful as it's big yellow trademark!

Sunflower Festival in Rosenhuben, Switzerland
Running for the past 12 years or so, features dancing and live music and this year is scheduled to be held August 2nd and 3rd, 2013. The link above will help you keep track if you are lucky enough to be visiting Switzerland at the time of the festival.

Rasmussen Farms Van Gogh Days, Mt Hood, Oregon, USA
Celebrating 60 kinds of sunflowers – you can paint, cut, take photos and enjoy the many colors of summer. August 3rd and 4th are the dates to head to Mt Hood and take in the fun. Reservations suggested for photo clubs or art groups. There's BBQ, wine tasting, treasure hunts and games for the kids.

The Sundridge Sunflower Festival, Sundridge, Ontario
The Sundridge Sunflower Festival is back and again growing strong in this charming Ontario town. Dates for 2013: Aug. 9th & 10th. Sundridge, Ontario is located on the shores of Lake Bernard, about 3.5 hours north of Toronto. Check out their link for a list of events, including live music, a parade, pancake breakfast, water demonstrations and an outdoor movie.

Sunflower River Blues and Gospel Festival
If you are a Blues fan, there are over three days of non-stop music for your listening pleasure. The free 2013 celebration features 40 bands and is being dedicated to the late Melville Tillis, longtime blues historian and festival co-chairman. Rush is headlining the Friday night stage, and the North Mississippi AllStars will close the Saturday night stage.
2013 dates have been announced: August 9th, 10th and 11th, 2013.

International Sunflower Festival, Frankfort, Ohio
Enjoy a car show, a grand parade, a pageant, flower show, music, crafts and MORE! The whole downtown is involved with a weekend of fun, generally held on the Labor Day weekend in September - for 2013 September 1st and 2nd.

North Dakota Sunflower Festival
Enderlin's largest annual event is an action-packed week-long celebration. Fun contests include the largest sunflower head, best sunflower recipe and Lil' Miss and Lil' Mister Sunflower. This year's festival is being held September 20-22, 2013

Sunflower Fields of Lop Buri, Thailand
If you are travelling to Thailand between November and January, you can head to central Thailand each year to view the gorgeous fields covered with sunflowers. Panoramic sunflower fields have become Lop Buri's major tourist attraction when they are in full bloom; gorgeous!

Akeno Sunflower Festival (Festival Link in Japanese)
Visitors can take pleasure in viewing a sea of 210,000 sunflowers, enclosed on all sides by the Southern Alps, Mt. Yatsugatake, Mt. Fuji, Mt. Kayagatake, and other mountains in sun-drenched Akeno Town, which gets the longest hours of sunlight in Japan. I can't read Japanese to tell you the exact dates; typically takes place in the months of July and August.

Sunflower Festivals – More?

If you know of more festivals I am happy to link to them; these are just the ones I have either heard of or that could be readily found. Contact me using the form on my site and we'll get your festival added too!

Sunflower Festivals That May No Longer Exist

Ukrainian Sunflower Festival in Warren, Michigan
For a reason unknown to me, the festival has not been held for the last few years, not since 2007. I keep the link here but I've seen no change in this again in 2013. Typically a large celebration, with traditional Ukranian food, arts and crafts, it has historically attracted tens of thousands.Check the link above to keep track; however, the website does not seem to exist any longer. If any of my readers know more about the festival, do e-mail from the contact form and let me know!